How the History

This topic submitted by Burt (kaufmabi@muohio.edu) on 2/19/03. Additions were last made on Wednesday, February 19, 2003. Section:

As an historian by training, I am always leery about proposals that begin with wanting to "prove" something. Our method is "inductive" (going from the general to the specific) rather than deductive (going from the specific to the general, qhixh ia more the approach of scientists. But even scientists talk about testing a hypothesis (an assumption) rather than trying to "prove" something. So talk about "testing an hypothesis" rather thanb "proving" something. There is a real difference.

Beyond that, I share Hays' concern about finding the information about the elements and compounds in Four Mile Creek at some point (what point since Miami has been around for a long time) necessary to compare an earlier time with a later time. What you might be able to is to investigate the concern or lack of concern that Miami has expressed about the impact of its growth on Four Mile Creek, how it has viewed and valued the river, how it has actually used the river and by examining the present health of the river SUGGEST (not prove)how Miami might have impacted on the river. As you examine pertinent records, you may come across scientific information about the river that you can put to good use. You might also check to see what Masters Theses and doctoral dissertations in the sciences have been written involving Four Mile Creek, although I recognize that Hays is not immediately aware of any.

Burt

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